Yordano Ventura suspended for nine games, Manny Machado for four

Major League Baseball suspended Kansas City Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura for nine games and Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado for four on Thursday after they instigated a benches-clearing brawl during Tuesday night's game between the teams.

MLB also announced that both players were fined an undisclosed amount. USA Today reported that Machado's fine was $2,500.

Both players appealed the suspension. Machado was in the Orioles' lineup for Thursday night's game.

Machado, 23, was hit Tuesday night in the series opener by a 99 mph fastball from Ventura, 25, in the bottom of the fifth inning, rushed toward him and threw a punch at Ventura's head before wrestling him to the ground as both benches emptied.

Both players are no strangers to MLB discipline. Ventura was suspended for seven games in 2015 after he started a brawl with the Chicago White Sox and fined for throwing at a batter. Machado was suspended for five games in 2014 after he threw his bat toward third base after a pitch brushed him back during a game against the Oakland Athletics.

Last month, Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor also threw a punch at a player and received a seven-game suspension.

Machado is batting .303 with 15 home runs and 37 RBIs in 58 games this season. The two-time All-Star has the longest active games-played streak in the major league at 220 games.

Ventura has a 4-4 record with a 5.32 ERA this year. In four major league seasons, he is 31-23 with a 3.87 ERA.